News

H&K -Appointments and New Business

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:39:59 +1000

Hill & Knowlton Creates Strategy Planning Role and Appoints a New Head of Consumer Lifestyle Practice

Sydney, 4 July 2008 - Hill & Knowlton Australia, winner of the 2007 Asia Pacific PR Week Agency of the Year, has announced two senior appointments.

Sally Hart has taken on the newly created role of Strategy & Planning Director and will run the agency's new insights and planning function. In addition, Sally will manage the agency's new research function, part of a global network that can provide 24/7 research for clients. The Strategy and Planning role in Sydney extends the global network of planners within Hill & Knowlton, with hubs already established in London and New York.

Sophie Halls Anning joins Hill & Knowlton as the new Director of Consumer Lifestyle. Sophie brings with her a wide range of both brand and product consumer PR experience from both Australia and the UK.

Most recently, Sophie ran the consumer team at PPR, with clients that included McDonald's, Emirates, Bunnings and Goodman Fielder. Sophie has worked for 2ic and Pulse in Australia working on Toyota, Vodafone and Bundaberg Rum.

Originally from the UK, Sophie spent her formative years at H&K London in the youth arm of its consumer team working on Ford, adidas, P&G, Motorola and Jim Beam.

"Sally has grown our consumer practice with leading brands including eBay, The Coca-Cola Company and Yahoo!7. She has helped developed H&K's reputation here as a leading brand PR agency and I have no doubt that she will be just as successful in her new role," said Michelle Hutton, Chief Executive Australasia.

"We're delighted that Sophie is rejoining Hill & Knowlton and that she brings such strong consumer and brand experience that will ensure we continue to innovate and drive our brand PR offer."

Hill & Knowlton Yodels Its Way To Yahoo!7

Sydney, 4 July 2008 - Yahoo!7 the joint venture between Yahoo!, Seven and Pacific Magazines, has appointed Hill & Knowlton Australia as its new PR agency, after a competitive three way pitch. The agency started work immediately.

Yahoo!7 Marketing Director, Fergus Kibble said, "We are really pleased to have appointed Hill & Knowlton as our agency partner. Michelle Hutton and her team provided impeccable strategic & creative PR credentials, and demonstrated great understanding and passion for our business. Their breakthrough thinking has embraced our Start Something Wonderful campaign and will help us build our brand via engaging consumer PR".

H&K Chief Executive, Michelle Hutton added, "We are very excited to be working with Yahoo!7. Our consumer offer continues to grow and surprise the market. Our approach enables us to provide the best research based insights and strategic thinking to influence our creative process. This ultimately means our ideas are grounded in strong foundations that make good business sense."

The team is working on the recently launched rebrand campaign and communications program to leverage the upcoming Olympics.

FH Announces Key Australian Appointment

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:53:10 +1000

New Technology Group Leader Responds to Growing Digital Opportunity

Fleishman-Hillard International Communication, one of the world's leading public relations firms, announced this week that Austin Edgington has been appointed vice president of the Technology Group and head of the Digital Business Unit of the company's Sydney, Australia, office.

Edgington assumes overall responsibility for business development and the day-to-day operations of the Technology Group in Sydney. He reports to Fiona Tigar, general manager of Fleishman-Hillard Australia.

"Our Australian operations are on an aggressive growth path, with a particular focus on Australia's expanding technology industry. One of the best ways for us to fuel that growth is by continuing to grow our senior management team," said Lynne Anne Davis, Fleishman-Hillard's regional president of Asia Pacific. "Austin brings a wealth of technology marketing and communication experience to our team. His extensive public relations experience across technology sectors -- as well as 23 years of marketing experience in Australia, Europe, and the United States -- makes him the ideal choice to drive our growth in this important market."

An American native, Edgington, began his marketing career in Sydney as a copywriter at various radio stations, including the popular 2MMM in the mid eighties. During the early dot-com days in the Silicon Valley he held senior public relation positions with both multi-national companies and technology start ups, including Novell, CacheFlow, and marchFIRST.

Tourism Australia picks 11 for PR

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:34:34 +1000

Tourism Australia has selected 11 agencies for its a new public relations panel. The panel will provide all PR services for the organisation and were chosen after a tender process taking more than six weeks.

The 11 agencies are: Avviso (tendered in association with Pinque), Haystac Public Affairs, Hill & Knowlton, Horizon Communication Group, Ogilvy Public Relations, Red Agency, Royce and Sefiani Communications Group, The Reputation Group, CPR Communications and Public Relations and Gavin Anderson & Company.

The agencies will work on strategy development, media liaison and training, through to social media networking and advocacy. However, panel members will still have to bid for individual projects as they arrive, similar to other government rosters.

Tourism Australia's managing director Geoff Buckley said: 'Having a diverse range of agencies with a variety of skill sets will ensure that we are able to work with the right agency as each project arises, relying on their tailored skills to achieve the brief.'

More than 130 companies accessed the tender documents and 28 submitted tenders.

The panel of agencies will service all four Australian-based business units of Tourism Australia including corporate communication, domestic marketing, business events Australia, and global PR, however, Tourism Australia will work with PR agencies in other countries for some global projects.

'Tourism Australia will be able to call on the expertise of these agencies to assist with the rollout of a range of future internal and external communication activities, in a way that offers us the best value for money,' Buckley said.

2008 has seen a number of changes for the tourism authority including the launch of a global campaign on MySpace.com, in what is claimed to be the first global campaign by an Australian brand on the site. TA also put the creative ad account and media account out to tender this year, with the results to be announced imminently.

Saatchi & Saatchi and DDB are in the process of making final presentations having made it to the final stages for the $180m account, while incumbent M&C Saatchi failed to take the final round.

The media account is also undecided and is down to Carat and MPG, with results expected late July.

The public relations panel will be in place until 30 June 2011.

Note: This article appeared in B&T Today on Friday 27 June. To view the full article click here.

Register now for a seat at the Big Debate

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:09:56 +1000

It is shaping up as the International PR Debate of the Year. In one corner will be Britain's No. 1 communications specialist Alastair Campbell representing 'The Old Media'. In the other corner appearing for the United States and 'The New Media' will be Jennifer McClure, founder and executive director of the Society for New Communications Research.

The pair will take centre stage at the opening session of the PRIA conference on Monday, 13 October, when first Campbell - directly followed by McClure - will deliver much awaited International Keynote Addresses.

Campbell, Tony Blair's legendary Director of Communications, has strong views on the Internet which he blames for a serious erosion of journalistic standards. Delivering the Hugh Cudlipp Lecture recently to a packed audience in London, Campbell declared that news could now be news simply for the fact that someone reports something, regardless of veracity.

New landscape, 'Anyone can be a journalist,' he added. 'Anyone can be a cameraman. A rumour can be launched on a message board and find its way quickly, if interestingly enough, into the U.S. presidential election debate. It is a new landscape. I would love to know where it is all heading.'

Campbell's comments drew a riposte from Jennifer McClure, an authority on the use of 'The New Media'. She told PRIA: 'I disagree with Alastair's view on the Internet and where it is taking the media and communications industries. What we have now is a communications revolution.

'This new era is re-shaping and influencing the way we view, perceive, experience and participate in our world. It invites us to re-examine the difference between 'news and information' versus 'knowledge.' Ultimately it means we will have to re-invent the role that news organizations can and should play in society. This is an exciting time indeed.

'It will be great to hear the views of Australian practitioners on all this at the Fremantle conference. I am truly looking forward to my first visit to Australia.'

Register now at: www.acevents.com.au/pria2008 for a seat at this outstanding session and a rare opportunity to quiz international PR leaders Campbell and McClure on the impact of the new media on global communications

PRIA NSW President appointed to head H&K

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:38:57 +1000

Sydney, June 30th 2008 - Hill & Knowlton Australia has announced the promotion of Andrew Collett to the position of Managing Director, based in Sydney. He was formerly the Director of Client Services, H&K Australia and he previously ran the firm's corporate marketing practice.

"Andrew is a valued member of our team and a well respected senior consultant in our market," said Michelle Hutton, Chief Executive of Hill & Knowlton Australasia.

"Andrew is very passionate about the communication industry, the H&K business and how we can continue to be the lead agency in our market. I look forward to working with him to continue to take our business forward."

Mr Collett commented: "The success of the past few years has been a true team effort and I now have the opportunity to work even closer with our senior team and clients, a challenge I am looking forward to tackling. I know that we can continue to grow H&K and continue to lead our market with innovative and effective communication to help solve our clients' business challenges."

Mr Collett is the current President of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (NSW).

Legacy document for GLOBAL PR industry

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:13:14 +1000

A manifesto recognising the best in public relations practice and what it can achieve was produced in association with participants of the World Public Relations Conference: ‘The Public Benefit of Public Relations’ hosted by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK) in London on 23 and 24 June.

The 200+ PR professionals from across the globe who gathered for the conference were given the opportunity to submit their comments about the document via email and text during the two-day event.

The manifesto, which summarises the conference’s main themes, will serve as a permanent legacy of the event and a statement of the vision and values of the global PR industry.

Colin Farrington, chair of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management and director general of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK), said:

“Having brought together PR professionals from across the globe to talk about the challenges facing the public relations industry as well as the contribution it makes to every-day life, we considered it vitally important to capture these discussions both for future generations of PR practitioners and for the wider world.

“The conference programme was the product of extensive consultation with CIPR members and our colleagues overseas. It was, therefore, right that the manifesto should be a collaborative, legacy document of this remarkable event, which was two years in planning.”

You can view manifesto by folllowing this link.

For further information about the World PR Conference hosted by the CIPR in association with the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management in London on 23 and 24 June 2008, visit www.cipr.co.uk/wprf08.

PRIA announces key speakers for National Conference

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:01:47 +1000

The Public Relations Institute of Australia has named some of the key speakers who will address its National Conference in Fremantle in October.

Britain’s Alastair Campbell and an international authority on global use of "The New Media," Jennifer McClure from the United States, will present at the opening session on October 13. Campbell had a major influence on British political life as Communication Director and Strategist for former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

McClure is the Founder and Executive Director of the Society for New Communication Research, a global think-tank dedicated to the advanced study of the latest developments in new media and communication, and their effect on traditional media and business models, communication, culture and society.

An authority on the use of digital media, Professor Stuart Allan, from Bournemouth University in Britain, will speak at a plenary session on the opening day. His research projects include a study of citizen journalism and how young people are using the new media. Australia's Alex Manchester, author of "How to use Social Media to engage employees" and one of the country's best-read bloggers, will join Allan in this session.

PRIA National President Tracy Jones said the title of the Conference was "The New Communicator". The conference would explore the challenges facing PR professionals in an age where communication was of increasing importance to business. It would also look at new communication tools and how they can be integrated into communication programs to increase their effectiveness.

"PR professionals are increasingly becoming key strategists in organisations, driving business decisions at the highest level. At the same time, they have a broader range of tools available to them than ever before, and an audience that is consuming more media than ever before," Jones said.

"We will hear from the experts how industry leaders are harnessing the new technologies to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders," she said. "The Fremantle Conference will provide a tremendous opportunity to look at case studies, success stories and ask questions on what's round the corner in this age of new media."

No fewer than seven overseas speakers are scheduled to present on various topics including a special plenary session entitled "Into Asia" where practitioners from that continent, particularly from China, will talk about the huge business and career prospects that are emerging for Australian practitioners. In all some 40 presentations are scheduled for the Fremantle event.

Registrations are now being taken at www.acevents.com.au/pria2008 phone 02 8908 8555.

E N D S

Notes to editor:

PRIA is the peak body for Public Relations and Communication professionals in Australia. PRIA represents and provides professional support and recognition to 3,000 professionals and 150 consultancies throughout Australia.

Since 1947, it has been our role to promote and enhance the profession and its status to the broader community throughout Australia, to enforce the principles of ethical standards and represent public relations practitioners in the best interests of the profession.

For further information contact:
Tom Mackay, Chair of the PRIA National Conference
Tel: 08 9368 6775 or 044 88 747 80

National Prescribing Service wins Gold Quill

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:55:28 +1000

National Prescribing Service wins Gold Quill award, New York

NEW YORK: Australian non-profit organisation, the National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) has won a prestigious international 2008 Gold Quill Award for excellence in communication for its 2007 Get to know your medicines and Generic medicines are an equal choice national awareness campaigns.

The Award for Excellence in Communication Management – Multi-Audience will be presented to NPS by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) at the awards ceremony in New York on 23 June 2008.

NPS CEO Dr Lynn Weekes said, “Winning the award is an incredible achievement and a recognition of NPS’s commitment to excellence. I am immensely proud of the NPS staff who were involved in the campaign but would also like to acknowledge the pivotal role our partner organisations played in helping us to communicate these important medicines messages.”

Partner organisations included: the Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia, the Council on the Ageing (COTA), the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), Medicare Australia and a range of internal working groups comprising consumer, academic and health professionals. This is an example of a consumer-led campaign having strong impact.

Conducted from August to December 2007, the generic medicines campaign targeted senior Australians and was aimed at raising their confidence and understanding of generic medicines with a focus on safety, quality and choice. The integrated campaign included a range of strategies such as television advertising, a phone help line, printed resources, website and community information sessions. It also explained the principles of quality use of medicines (QUM).

IABC’s Gold Quill Awards program has been the hallmark of excellence in business communication for more than 35 years. The winners represent the best in organisational communication and their work plans serve as best practices for professional communicators across communication disciplines. This year’s competition was sponsored by Towers Perrin and received over 1,040 entries from 30 countries. Of these, 116 were selected to receive awards; 41 Awards of Excellence, 73 Awards of Merit and two student awards.

The Gold Quill entries went through two rigorous rounds of judging by a team of top senior communicators from around the world. The final selection was made by the Gold Quill Blue Ribbon Panel of judges at the IABC world headquarters in San Francisco in March. The winners are being honored at the Gold Quill Awards gala on 23 June at IABC’s International Conference in New York City. A select number of winning entries will be on display at the conference.

To win the Gold Quill Award, NPS competed with peers from 30 countries including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, U.K. and the U.S.

“This Award is particularly sweet for us as this is our 10th anniversary year – it’s a lovely birthday present,” said Dr Weekes.

NPS was established in 1998 with a mission to create an awareness, culture and environment that supports the quality use of medicines. Quality use of medicines include asking whether a medicine is necessary, if so, selecting management options wisely and using medicines safely and effectively. Today, NPS has a staff of approximately 120 people who run a diverse range of programs in partnership with health professionals, Government, community groups, industry and consumers.

Creative agencies have a hard slog ahead

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:31:01 +1000

The majority of creative agencies are doing it tougher now than five years ago, according to a new survey by Instinct Systems.

Fifty-eight per cent of respondents said they found it easier to run their business two years ago, stating staffing challenges, business management systems and clients taking work in-house as the major challenges.

The survey included advertising agencies, graphic designers, public relations agencies, video production, architects and other creative agencies, with all companies citing similar issues.

Another major challenge was a reported drop in advertising spends by clients, reduced profitability on projects, and clients not prepared to pay for account service time or not respecting the service provided.

Interestingly, only one third of businesses surveyed are billing more than 50% of account service time to clients, and the belief is that clients are not prepared to pay for account services as they don't understand the time involved, and believe it should take less.

Instinct Systems Managing Director David Blaymires said that a lack of effective business management software was a major factor in the difficulties agencies faced.

"It is surprising for an industry that is so technologically driven, that so many creative businesses do not have the proper software to manage their operations efficiently," David said.

The survey revealed that most companies have software that is less than five years old for carrying out their design function, however, surprisingly, one third of respondents did not have up-to-date and effective business management software to manage the efficiency of the business.

Well over half of the respondents admitted they had failed to capture all costs associated with the business, and found it hard to understand why they didn't make a profit.

According to David, there is a sense of unfounded optimism among representatives of the creative industry despite the fact that they are recording less profitability.

"Almost 70% of those surveyed foresee business growth in the next five years as part of their strategy. Yet the majority of these businesses are also those who say that it is harder now for their business than any time in the last five years," David said.

"These results show that many of the creative businesses are too focussed on the creative side of their business and they do not have any mechanism in place to track their business efficiency and to measure the productivity and profitability of the day-to-day running of their operation."

"This is surprising, especially when there are several leading-edge software programs available, like Job Bag, that do all the business management work for them and identify areas where urgent attention is needed," said David

An example of how businesses aren’t aware of their profitability was highlighted when survey participants were asked whether the increasing cost of raw materials was eroding profits. A considerable 41% of respondents simply did not know.

"The opportunities to improve the profitability of a business and its financial viability, without having to find more work, hours and staff, ultimately depends upon a strong business management system," David said.

"If creative businesses can start to monitor and improve their profitability with effective business management systems and be smarter with how they assess their business performance, they will stay ahead of their competitors."

Weber Shandwick Australia wins Gold Quill

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:38:10 +1000

SYDNEY, Australia - June 4, 2008: Weber Shandwick in Australia's support of Singapore Airlines' inaugural A380 flight has earned the 2008 Gold Quill Award of Merit in the Special Events Category.

Weber Shandwick in Australia helped launch Singapore Airlines A380’s first flight from Singapore to Sydney on October 25, 2007. In a world's first event, all seats on board were auctioned on eBay for charity, and more than 800 winning auction bidders and 120 international media descended on Sydney for seven separate events over two days. Operating within a functioning airport, Weber Shandwick navigated stringent security and the demands of multiple media markets to execute one of the largest launches in the travel industry to date.

Managing Director of Weber Shandwick in Australia, Emma-Jane Granleese, says the award is a testament to the agency's strong relationship with Singapore Airlines and its ability to combine multiple public relations disciplines to produce solid communications programmes.

"This project drew together consumer marketing, new media, events management, issues preparedness and corporate communications to produce a holistic campaign that met specific business objectives for Singapore Airlines," said Granleese. "Our relationship with Singapore Airlines has never been as strong, as witnessed by our team-like effort to make the A380 launch the biggest event in recent travel history - a feat we’ve proudly accomplished together."

IABC's Gold Quill Awards programme has been the hallmark of excellence in business communication for more than 35 years. The winners represent the best in organisational communication and their work plans serve as best practice for professional communicators across communication disciplines.

The winners will be honoured at the Gold Quill Awards gala on June 23 at IABC's International Conference in New York City.

WEBER SHANDWICK’S CONSUMER MARKETING PRACTICE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

SYDNEY, Australia - June 4, 2008: Weber Shandwick in Australia's Consumer Marketing practice is celebrating continued growth, following a period of sustained organic and new business wins.

The agency's FMCG portfolio was recently strengthened as the practice took on an integrated above and below the line execution to launch Unilever’s Bushells Australian Breakfast Tea - working with Arc Worldwide and IPG partners McCann Erickson and Universal McCann.

Continued organic growth in this sector has also seen the agency enter its third year of partnership with one of Australia's largest food manufacturers, George Weston Foods, taking on new projects with the Baking Division across Burgen, Top Taste, Bazaar and Tip Top, as well as supporting the operations of the Company's Consumer Affairs Division.

Building on its solid sports sponsorship experience, the Consumer Marketing practice is now working with Samsung Electronics Australia to maximise its impressive portfolio of assets - from the Olympic Torch Relay to sponsored teams across NRL, AFL, ARU and A-League.

Weber Shandwick in Australia's Consumer Marketing Vice-President, Alexandra Kelly, says the team's client service focus and ability to work laterally across the business has allowed the agency to build sustainable growth and meaningful client partnerships.

"We pride ourselves on our ability to build longstanding and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients as business partners," she said. "The longevity of our partnerships with the likes of George Weston Foods, Singapore Airlines and Nespresso is testament to how critical this ingredient has been to our continued growth and success."